Key Dates

Dr John Simpson of Bradford records a 'Mr Jacobs, the jeweller' as a regular Jewish visitor to Bradford. This is possibly the first reference to be found to Jews in Bradford.

1838

Jacob Behrens arrives in Bradford and is the first Jewish settler in Bradford in modern times. He was the first foreign merchant to export wool goods from Bradford.

1851

Jacob Unna and Jacob Behrens, are founders of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce.

1853

Leading Bradford Jews, including Jacob Moser, promoted the building of St Georges Hall concert hall.

1864

Charles Semon, is elected Bradford's first Jewish and foreign-born mayor.

1865

The Chief Rabbi includes Bradford in his provincial tour, but only six people attended a meeting convened to talk to him! Many Jews are assimilated. There are over 100 children in the Jewish community but no facilities for their Jewish education.

1870 ‑ 1871

During the Franco‑Prussian war, many German Jewish merchants transfer their headquarters to Bradford and built impressive warehouses, in 'Little Germany'.

1873

The formation of a Jewish Association in Bradford.

1873

The Rev. Dr. Joseph Strauss is appointed the first Rabbi in Bradford.

1876

Rabbi Strauss is appointed lecturer in Hebrew and Oriental languages at the Airedale Independent College, Bradford.

1881

Russian Jews flee Russia and arrive in Bradford and quickly form their own Orthodox Synagogue.

1882

Jacob Behrens is knighted by Queen Victoria for his work in connection with commercial treaties between England and France.

1892

Berthold Reif, from Czechoslovakia, comes to Bradford and became a merchant and then mill owner in the Great Depression. He was said to possess 'The Spice of Adventure'.

1895

There are 30 Jewish families

1909

There is a Jewish population of 750

1914 - 1919

The First World War and strong anti-German feelings terminally damaged the German community of Bradford and many in the German community changed their names or gave up Bradford altogether

1933 - 1945

Bradford Jews are at the forefront of helping Jews to leave the continent, after Hitler's rise to power, and many Jews make Bradford their new home and increase the post-war Jewish population.

1945

Joseph Kagen, later Lord Kagan, a Holocaust survivor, initially comes to Bradford at the end of the war. He went on to found Kagen Textiles Ltd.

1946

There is a Jewish population of 490

1949

There is a Jewish population of 700

1965

There is a Jewish population of 700

1970

The Bradford Community builds a new Orthodox Synagogue in Springhurst Gardens in Shipley.

1980s

Many Jewish families and young Jewish people leave Bradford for Leeds and London, and both the Orthodox and Reform communities were depleted.

1984

Councillor Olive Messer, becomes the fourth Jewish Lord Mayor of Bradford, following on a tradition started by Joseph Semon, who was Mayor, and former Lord Mayors, Jacob Moser and Alderman Black.

1990

There is a Jewish population of 430.

1990

The Reform community start Cheder (Hebrew classes) at Bowland Street, as once again there were Jewish children in the community.